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posted by Fnord666 on Tuesday March 17 2020, @11:52AM   Printer-friendly
from the sudden-impact dept.

A lot has already happened this year. SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) which can cause COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019) has been making headlines shortly after it was first reported. The first cases were reported to WHO (World Health Organization) on 2019-12-31. The virus spread. It began as an epidemic in China . The world watched apprehensively. Reports surfaced of cases in other countries and the the apprehension grew. For many folk, it turned to fear when it was upgraded to a pandemic: WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020: "We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic."

We have seen increasing efforts to stem the spread of the disease. Efforts have run the gamut. Closing of borders. Cancellation of sporting events. Conferences cancelled. Churches and other places of worship also closed. Schools closed. Panic buying of household goods and supplies. Supply chain disruptions affecting manufacturers. Restaurant, bars, and other such establishments closed. Work-from-home policies established and enacted.

The changes have been many, widespread, and continuing.

Reading about all the ways that "other people" have been affected is one thing. It seems different, somehow, when it hits closer to home and affects us directly. With many of our usual social activities curtailed or cancelled, it is easy to begin isolating and lose perspective. SoylentNews arose from a troubled period (the SlashCott) and a community has formed from that challenging period.

How have you been affected? Have you been infected? Had a family member or friend who was? Helped neighbors who are struggling? Hunkering down and isolating? (In a basement is optional.) Are you suddenly working from home and finding it challenging to manage your time? Still working on site, but now have a faster commute due to all the other people staying home? Catching up on watching TV shows? Reading more SoylentNews? How has your life changed?

From a somewhat different perspective, how have others helped you to cope... and how have you been able to help others? One of the potential impacts of social distancing is isolation and depression. I count myself fortunate, indeed, to have served this site for over 6 years and for all the people I have gotten to know, here. For those who may not be aware, SoylentNews has its own IRC (Internet Relay Chat) server. Feel free to drop in to #Soylent and just say "Hi!"

Social distancing is permanent when you're dead. So, practice good hygiene and stay safe.

Previously (oldest first):
China Battles Coronavirus Outbreak: All the Latest Updates
2019-nCoV Coronavirus Story Roundup
Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Roundup
Coronavirus Roundup
Coronavirus Roundup (Feb. 17)
Roundup of Stories about the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus and COVID-19 Disease
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 - CoronaVirus) Roundup
CoronaVirus (SARS-CoV-2) Roundup 2020-03-12
Working from Home: Lessons Learned Over 20 Years


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  • (Score: 5, Informative) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday March 17 2020, @02:29PM (7 children)

    by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday March 17 2020, @02:29PM (#972217) Journal

    As most know, I am a pharmacy technician. Pharmacies are, along with hospitals, the only establishments that are going to remain open if the dunghill intersects the windmill at speed. I'm in my early 30s, have no health risks, am at a normal weight (about 150lb at 5'10"), and am making sure to eat as close to right as my budget allows and take vitamins (details below).

    I will likely get infected if I haven't been already, and will probably be fine, but since many customers are elderly, I may find out in the afterlife that I was indirectly responsible for killing several of them. They won't hold it against me, but it also can't be undone or even avoided, no matter how much handwashing and surface-sanitizing I'm doing.

    Regarding vitamins: this is not medical professional advice, just doing what makes me feel best. I am taking 2000 IU dry Vitamin D3, 3,000mg Vitamin C, a B-50 complex tablet, 1,000mg of magnesium as oxide, 200mg CoQ10, and 30mg zinc (this last one 4+ hours from the Mg as I am told they neutralize one another). This regimen appears to work, and while I'm pretty sure I've been sick with *something* for at least 2 weeks, as of Sunday it seems to be clearing up.

    --
    I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by janrinok on Tuesday March 17 2020, @02:54PM

    by janrinok (52) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday March 17 2020, @02:54PM (#972237) Journal

    You do your best - that is all anyone can do. You are contributing positively, thank you.

  • (Score: 2) by RS3 on Tuesday March 17 2020, @03:38PM (1 child)

    by RS3 (6367) on Tuesday March 17 2020, @03:38PM (#972272)

    I too thank you for being involved, and almost at the front lines. And thank you for those supplement tips.

    One of my biggest concerns is that someone could be infected or a carrier and not know it. Do you know if there's a way to test for this? IE, does the current test show positive before you have symptoms but are a carrier?

    I'm trying to figure out how I can help the efforts. Any suggestions?

    • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Thursday March 19 2020, @12:20AM

      by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Thursday March 19 2020, @12:20AM (#972989) Journal

      Honestly, I don't know. What makes this little single-stranded motherfucker so insidious is that you can be asymptomatic for well over a week while shedding virus like a Persian cat sheds hair. I don't even know how the current test kits work or what they're looking for, though I'd assume it's testing for an antibody titer specific to some part of the virus itself.

      Regarding the supplements, this may not work for you, or anyone but me, and it may not even continue working for me. Peoples' body chemistries are different enough that what works for one could be actively harmful to another; that much vitamin C, for example, will give normal people what Nanny Ogg persists in referring to as "the dire rear" and only works for me due to massive physiological demand brought on by untreated PTSD and constant stress. High doses of vitamin D3 (though 2000IU is only half the tolerable upper intake) can screw around with your calcium homeostasis, in particular dragging it out of your bones and depositing it in a nice thick layer all over your circulatory systems unless you take magnesium with it. Magnesium and zinc antagonize one another, I am told. The standard cheap B-complex pills could be harmful to someone with a bad MTHFR polymorphism due to having folic acid rather than 6(S)-5-methylfolate in it. And so on, and so on. Please listen to your body and be careful with supplements!

      --
      I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 17 2020, @03:51PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 17 2020, @03:51PM (#972285)

    I got what was likely covid-19 in late January just after the first identified case was found in my part of the US. If I had the symptoms now that I did then, I would have self-quarantined and contacted my doctor, over the phone, about possible testing. But, at that point, there were no tests available and definitely not to somebody who hadn't been in China recently.I stayed home for a few days, but the symptoms weren't completely gone for weeks afterward, during which time, I likely would have spread it. That's assuming it was this virus and without testing, I have no way of knowing for sure, but a cold with a fever is justification for further testing.

  • (Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Wednesday March 18 2020, @12:25AM (2 children)

    by barbara hudson (6443) <barbara.Jane.hudson@icloud.com> on Wednesday March 18 2020, @12:25AM (#972563) Journal

    Why aren't you going to delivery and scheduled pickup only? People get a call when their order is ready, come in, pick it up, leave. Instructions in the bag. Any questions via phone.

    We went full lockdown at the food bank where I volunteer. Nobody who's not a known volunteer gets in. People pick up their boxes at the side shipping door, they're not allowed in. Their box is placed on a table outside and they take it.

    Everyone is wearing disposable gloves, and we're going through boxes like crazy. I had been stockpiling extras for 3 years, got a lot of ribbing for it, said "we may need them at some point" - that point was yesterday. 1/3 of what should have been a year's worth gone in one day. Anything they don't want to take with them they have to throw in the dumpster - we can't take it back inside for someone else. Same as when they transfer food to shopping bags and carts - we can't take the boxes back inside.

    Like most volunteer organizations, most of our volunteers are older and with pre-existing conditions. In a way this is a good thing - we take precautions seriously.

    Other programs have been cancelled because we simply can't trust the general public to observe the necessary precautions.

    --
    SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.
    • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Thursday March 19 2020, @12:42AM (1 child)

      by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Thursday March 19 2020, @12:42AM (#972996) Journal

      Hell if I know. Probably because 'MURRICA, and BIZNIZ.

      --
      I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
      • (Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Thursday March 19 2020, @03:22PM

        by barbara hudson (6443) <barbara.Jane.hudson@icloud.com> on Thursday March 19 2020, @03:22PM (#973193) Journal

        On the news this morning one pharmicist was being interviewed about measures he's taken to protect both his employees and clients. No more lottery tickets, for example. He was shocked to see someone coming in using a walker and buying lottery tickets when we're supposed to be limiting ourselves to essential trips only. It's a simple thing, but every bit helps.

        Limiting the number of people entering at one time, increasing home delivery and pre-order/pick-up to get people in and out quickly, because about half the population of all ages has underlying health conditions, same as half the population who has diabetes or hypertension don't know.

        --
        SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.